inflict

verb

in·​flict in-ˈflikt 

inflicted; inflicting; inflicts

transitive verb

1

a

: to give by or as if by striking

inflict a painful sting

inflict damage

b

: to cause (something unpleasant) to be endured

… inflict my annual message upon the church itself if it might derive benefit thereby.

—Mark Twain

2

: afflict

inflicter noun

or inflictor

in-ˈflik-tər 

inflictive

in-ˈflik-tiv 

adjective

Examples of inflict in a Sentence

These insects are capable of inflicting a painful sting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lovely goals from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia turned the game on its head to inflict a second defeat of the season on the home team. —Elias Burke, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

But the most important part of the story left unseen in the series is the gut-wrenching violence Gacy inflicted on his victims, both those who died and the few who survived. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025

And the matchup gives the Rebels their chance to inflict back-to-back defeats upon the Bulldogs for the first time in almost 30 years. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

Joe Podraza, a lawyer for Greenberg's parents, has said that this wound was inflicted after Greenberg's heart stopped beating. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin inflictus, past participle of infligere, from in- + fligere to strike — more at profligate

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for inflict

• addict
• afflict
• constrict
• delict
• depict
• evict
• handpicked
• predict
• relict
• restrict
• bricked
• clicked

Kids Definition

inflict

verb

in·​flict in-ˈflikt 

1

: to give by or as if by striking

inflict a wound

2

: to cause (something damaging or painful) to be endured

inflict punishment

infliction

-ˈflik-shən

noun